The Verve Love is Noise

Posted by James W. Coates Aug 6, 2008

The Verve’s brilliant new single “Love is Noise” crosses the lines between rock and electronica, grabs hold and doesn’t let go for the entire journey. Backed with a wall of sound similar to U2’s fancying with electronica during their experimental period that produced Actung Baby and Zooropa, “Love is Noise” sprinkles the electronics throughout, in particular the loud barking vocal sample clanging in the backdrop.

Known particularly for their Brit pop compilations that brought them to the world’s attention after the likes of Blur and Oasis had all but dried up, the new incarnation of The Verve leaves the pack cowering on the shoulders of giants.

Richard Ashcroft hasn’t sounded this energetic, without the aid of uncontrolled substances in a very long time. “Love is Noise” almost erases his painful solo output since disbanding The Verve.

A great return to form for a band who, despite making one of the biggest singles of the 1990’s, barely scraped by financially after omitting to get permission for the looped sample from, "The Last Time" by The Rolling Stones, to whom The Verve were forced to pay 100 percent of their publishing rights.

With a few remixes, “Love is Blind” could be the floor filler of the fall.